Conscience
In Conscience, neurophilosopher Patricia Churchland makes the case that morality is rooted in biology; specifically, in how the brain has evolved to support and reinforce useful norms of behavior that help sustain a successful community. Discussing neurochemicals and brain regions, and everything from political views to prairie voles, Churchland sheds light on how our values are shaped in our brains. It’s...
Touching a Nerve
This fascinating book tackles the challenges of balancing a philosophical, spiritual view of the self with a neurological, brain-based view. Churchland—a philosopher in a family of neuroscientists—takes on this existential struggle by drawing on personal experience, research, and philosophy. The end result for the reader is a better understanding of the brain and the self, from this synthesis of the...